Global Climate Change: Capacity Building
According to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, building a country’s capacity
… encompasses the country’s human, scientific, technological, organizational, institutional and resource capabilities. A fundamental goal of capacity-building is to enhance the ability to evaluate and address the crucial questions related to policy choices and modes of implementation among development options, based on an understanding of environmental potentials and limits and of needs as perceived by the people of the country concerned.(1)
Public awareness and understanding of climate change science and climate change impacts on development has increased following the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Fourth Assessment Report in 2007. Building human and institutional capacity to address climate change is a fundamental component of USAID’s approach. Capacity building cuts across USAID’s three pillars (adaptation, clean energy, and sustainable landscapes and therefore USAID aims to integrate capacity building into its sectoral activities through education, training, and outreach. Examples include USAID-sponsored workshops, training seminars, and technical assistance activities in over 40 countries.
Lessons learned and best practices from USAID’s capacity building programs show that:
- For on the ground, lasting results, projects must include training components so that host country nationals will be able to manage and maintain the project. For this to occur, there must be incentives for the host country practitioner of the project to become its manager.
- Leveraging works best when all donor partners are present at all stages of a project from its definition and design through its implementation. There is a need to build institutional partnerships in developing countries between donor parties, country officials and the private sector.
- Replicating model projects has proven to be a cost effective and time effective means of bringing the successes and lessons learned from one country to another. Care must be taken to tailor the projects to the specific needs of the country.
- Projects that are developed jointly by several organizations must be housed with one specific organization. This approach will give one group the ultimate responsibility to supervise the successful implementation of the project.
- It is preferable that policies needed for project implementation be in place before the projects are implemented. However, project development and policy/regulation formulation activities can concurrently be implemented. It is important to note, though, that without the appropriate policy environment, projects will not be sustainable.
Footnote
1. UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development, “National Mechanisms & International Cooperation for Capacity-Building in Developing Countries,” in Agenda21, accessed November 18, 2010, chap/sec. 37.1.
Back to Top ^
|
